Last week, what was supposed to be a quick bathroom break turned out to be one of the most unexpected highlights of our road trip.
My kids and I were desperate to find a toilet, the bushes along the highway were starting to look tempting, when we finally saw a small sign pointing to a hidden place behind a tall gate and fences. We hesitated, but curiosity and urgency won đ€Łđ.
Little did we know that behind those walls wasnât just a restroom, but a beautifully landscaped cafĂ© guarded by giant dinosaurs, King Kong, a tiger, a horse, and even some friendly dogs. For just 10 pesos each, we didnât just find relief, but we also found a mini wonderland we never expected to see on the side of the road.
We were about an hour into our trip when my Sky and Meztli started to complain about needing to go to the toilet and fast. My husband kept driving, hoping for a gasoline station with a free toilet, but we couldn't find one. The place is quiet, bushy, and we only saw small huts of native people living in that cold, misty place along the road. With every passing moment, our laughter turned into desperate glances at the bushes by the roadside. We even slowed down near a thick bush, but the kids were scared of the idea.
The side view of the cafe when I took photos from the toilet.
Finally, after what felt like forever, we spotted a small sign with the word âTOILET 10 PESOSâ and an arrow pointing to a tall gate with high walls. At first, it looked suspicious, who puts a toilet behind a huge gate? And on the gate, there was posted "KILOMETRO 51" But then, another car pulled up behind us. Three women stepped out and confidently got inside. It seemed like they were used to that place. That was enough for me to decide, if they trusted it, so would I.
Inside the gate, we were stunned. What we expected to be a filthy pay toilet turned out to be a landscaped cafĂ© surrounded by huge, colorful statues of dinosaurs, a tiger, King Kong, a Panda, and even farm animals like a cow and a horse. The kidsâ faces instantly lit up with âWow!â They ran around pointing at the huge figures, and forgot they even needed the toilet; that's why we checked in there. Sky and Meztli started to roam around from one figure to another and had their poses.
We paid only 10 pesos each to use the restroom, which was clean and well-maintained, but what surprised me was that the small fee came with unlimited photo opportunities. There were pretty ornamental plants, life-sized statues, and even pet dogs in cages that the kids loved watching. I quickly called my sister and told her she had to come inside, too. She couldnât believe it either!
What started as a desperate toilet hunt turned into an unplanned break that made our road trip even more memorable. The kids posed for pictures with the dinosaurs and King Kong. My husband waiting in the car was became anxious and got out to check what was taking us so long, but didn't bother himself asking when he got in, đ€Łđ€Łđ he too was stunned.
Mostly, for me, the best parts of a trip are the ones you donât plan. For just 10 pesos each, we didnât just find a toilet, we found a hidden roadside attraction that made my kidsâ day. Next time we pass by, weâll know exactly where to stop, and maybe weâll even plan to stay a bit longer and sip a cup of hot coffee or hot chocolate from their cafe.
Have you ever accidentally discovered a hidden gem on the road? Iâd love to hear your stories, too, in the comments!